Humber Street Sesh returns with new business model
ENERGY: Flat Moon performing on the BBC Introducing stage. Picture by Kamil Liston Photography
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Humber Street Sesh will return to Hull Marina on Saturday, August 1, after “narrowly avoiding closure due to financial pressures”.
Organisers say the festival had faced an uncertain future because of “rising operational costs, declining sponsorship, and the wider cost-of-living crisis”.
To combat this they have launched a new Community Interest Company which they hope will give it a more sustainable future, allow the festival to access grant funding and ensuring that sponsorship, funding, and donations are directly reinvested back into the local community.
They have also thanked key partners including Hull City Council, Hull Business Angels, and Hull Trains.
Festival director Dave Mays said: “We’ve had incredible support from key partners to help secure this year’s festival and we’re very grateful, but we still need more businesses and the community to get behind it to ensure its long-term future.
“Humber Street Sesh is one of the city’s cultural flagship events. It generates over £1m in social value and has a huge positive impact on Hull. It is an event that is completely unique to the city – there’s nothing else like it in the country.”
A limited number of Tier 1 tickets have gone on sale today for this year’s event, priced at £20 plus booking fee. You can buy them from the Sesh website or through SeeTickets.com.
‘GREAT DAY OUT’: Music fans enjoying the acts. Picture by Heidi Jean Photography
More than 100 acts will perform across multiple stages. Community favourites including the BBC Introducing Stage, Silent Disco, and the Residents’ Association Block Party Stage will return alongside an exciting range of new partnerships designed to champion grassroots music, nurture emerging talent, and create “unforgettable experiences” for audiences of all ages.
Kath Wynne-Hague, head of service, culture, place and city centre at Hull City Council, said: “Humber Street Sesh plays a vital role in delivering Hull’s Music Plan. It provides a proven platform for emerging artists to perform, develop audiences, and build professional experience, while strengthening the city’s grassroots music ecology.”
Hull Trains is again supporting the event and will provide free travel for festival-goers.
Richard Salkeld, director of communications and partnerships at Hull Trains, said: “Hull Trains is proud to continue backing Humber Street Sesh with free travel for attendees.
“It is a festival that truly reflects the spirit of Hull’s community and showcases some of the outstanding musical talent from across the region.
“Rail travel is one of the most environmentally friendly ways for people to get to Humber Street Sesh and this is also part of our ongoing commitment to help reduce carbon emissions across the Humber region.”
Hull Music Service (lead partner for the Humber Music Hub) has formed a new partnership with The Warren and Warren Records, to develop a dedicated emerging-music stage, shining a spotlight on the next generation of young artists from the region.
STEPPING UP: Downtown Kayoto on the main stage. Picture by Paul Newbon Photography
Stage@TheDock, delivered in partnership with East Riding College’s music department, will offer an interactive programme of music master classes where the public can try out instruments and experience music-making first-hand. These sessions will be followed by live performances from the college’s music students, alongside a vibrant art exhibition.
Adding even more energy to the programme, Hip-Hop Karaoke makes its debut this year as a brand-new crowd-pulling feature. Designed to encourage audience participation, the stage will come alive throughout the day with hip-hop artists performing, inspiring, and guiding festival-goers to grab the mic and join in.
Festival director Mark Page said: “It’s great to be back with some exciting new partnerships that will significantly enhance the festival experience, creating more opportunities for grassroots musicians while giving audiences even more chances to participate and discover amazing national emerging music alongside homegrown talent.
“With headliners to be announced soon, we urge the public to support their Sesh and grab a discounted ticket while they can.”
Mark Burley, social value and partnerships manager at Business Angel member Keepmoat, said: “Humber Street Sesh is a unique opportunity for residents, visitors, businesses, and local artists to come together and have a great day out.
“As a Business Angel and sponsor of the Sesh, we value the diversity of acts and zones it provides, and we always sponsor the family zone where children and parents can experience music and arts in a safe and fun way and hopefully go away with something they have created as a keepsake.#
“It is crucial businesses get behind and continue to support the Sesh, this is what makes Hull a great place to live, work and play.”
The festival will take place from noon to 11pm.